"Hm, do not worry about that now." Aaron slowed down some as they approached the dining hall. "For now, let us go find our seats."

"Of course, thank you sir." Aaron bowed briefly to Leonidas before heading onward, into the dining room. Eribois followed.

Her parents watched the new girl and Aaron quietly when they finally entered the dining hall, an air of anger rolling through her family. Artanis only sighed and turned to Leonidas curiously. Feasting sounded nice first. An unhappy hmph came from her mother.

Cado watched the assembled quietly.

They were a few other small responses of eat first and Leonidas nodded. "Very well, let...the dinner...begin!" He settled beside Gwendolyn. "Busy...bodies, they are..." Gwendolyn laughed lightly as she began to make her plate. The tables were laden with food for the Riders, and the dragons each had their own lamb or cow to feast upon.

"What happened? Where were you guys?" Valerie asked, not frustrated at their lateness but more worried an incident had occurred.

Alexandra was quiet, looking around at the mass of people and dragons gathered. A great many were staring at her.

"Chow time," Uknyte and the two other dragons went to snag a fat cows for themselves. Artanis grinned as she loaded up her plate with food, knowing her dragon had been hungry a couple hours ago, even with a snack. Her brothers watched the new girl briefly before getting their food. Not being a Rider, they weren't too concerned. Her parents on the hand, now upset, watched the new girl disappeared to the back of the dining hall with the Morghulis. "Strangers, " She heard her father grumbled, finally reaching out to load his plate.

"Alatarièl, make sure you stay away from them, you hear me? They're not one of us, and I don't want to hear anything about you joining them," Her mother announced, turning to her daughter. "Yes, mother," Artanis replied dully, surpressing the urge to roll her eyes. Whatever, mom. However she knew that when the feast was done, severe politics qould roll in and dampen the festivity.

Valerie's mother spared Aaron a glance, smiling incredulously. "I'm sure you're more than capable," She said. Valerie just shook her head and stood. "We'll talk later," she said, patting Po on the head before following her mother back to the table up at the front. Elius didn't want to follow, but he wouldn't let Valerie suffer the verbal lecture alone, so he followed as well.

"What was that?" Alexandra asked quietly.

"Tensions around here are always high." Aaron said as he relaxed in his seat again. "Between the fact that families expect the utmost from their bloodlines in these dire times, she has her own family situation to deal with. That doesn't even take into account the fact that she's socializing with outsiders." Aaron explained before he went back to eating.

"Hm." Aaron thought for a moment. "Not all of them, no. Many, but to varying degrees as well."

Po had crawled onto the table, chewing on a piece of meat he had grabbed off a plate. "So, you guys had things to talk to me about?" She asked. She didn't want to think about being an outcast here right now.

"There's actually going to be a dragon race in a months," Valerie said. "If you'd like to come," Her voice was quiet, expecting to be shut down as per usual. Her mom scoffed and rolled her eyes, turning back to talk to Madame Velor, but her father replied, "I think I will. I've heard you and Elius are the fastest on the mountain."

Artanis quietly are her food as she listened to her brothers talk away. It was good too as they stayed away from the politics. The three dragons were enjoying their meal, so that was no help either.